Desk and drawer structure



Api-ilE, 1-966 J. ZEGEER 3,244,466

- DESK AND DRAWER SQRUGTURE v3 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1964 INVENTOR United States Patent Filed Aug. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 390,815 2 Claims. (Cl. 312239) This invention relates in general to desk drawers and more particularly to a drawer having a foot support in a wall thereof.

Objects of this invention are to provide an improved desk and drawer structure; to provide a desk drawer and foot support in which the foot support does not interfere with normal use of the drawer; and to provide a desk drawer and foot support which is of simple and economic construction and yet is comfortable and easy to use.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear in the specification, When considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a desk incorporating one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view of a portion of the desk drawer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the portion of the desk drawer shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of the portion of a desk drawer shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a partial side elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to a metal desk drawer;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the drawer shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a conventional kneehole desk 10 having a work surface 11 and a plurality of drawers 12, 13 and 14. While only drawers on the left side of the desk 10 are shown, it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to drawers on the right side of the desk. Moreover, while the invention will be described hereinafter in connection with center drawer 13, it is to be understood that the invention may be incorporated in any of the drawers.

Drawer 13 is of conventional rectangular form having a left side wall 15, front end wall 16, right side wall 17, bottom 18, a rear end wall (not shown), and conventional slide rails (not shown). Drawer 13 may have conventional dividers (not shown).

A generally arcuate discontinuity 21 in the normally straight top edge 22 of wall 17 forms a foot support for the user of the desk 10 when drawer 13 is in open position as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal ends of discontinuity 21 are vertical surfaces 23 into which are driven support screws 24 for flexible sling 25. Flexible sling 25 is, preferably, a soft plastic band which is spaced above discontinuity 21 so that, in use, the weight of the users foot does not distend the sling into engagement with discontinuity 21. Moreover, sling 25 is, preferably, of sufficient thickness that it stays generally in the plane of wall 17 after the users foot is removed. Alternatively, a less preferred material for flexible sling 25 is a woven fabric such as straps, web belting and the like. Moreover, flexible sling 25 may be suspended between a pair of spaced supports in a plane inside the drawer proper. In this embodiment, the discontinuity 21 need not be arcuate, but may, in fact,

3,244,466. Patented Apr. 5, 1966 be of any desired shape. However, in the embodiments which follow, the discontinuity is preferably arcuate.

The modifications shown in FIGS. 5 and 8 are the preferred embodiments of the invention and elements corresponding to elements in FIG. 1 have been given the same corresponding primed numerals. Referring now to FIG. 5, an arcuate discontinuity 21' in upper straight edge 22 of drawer wall 17' has a relatively firm sponge rubber pad 27 on substantially all of its length. Pad 27 may be secured to arcuate discontinuity by an adhesive 28 or by other suitably fastening means. Obviously, other materials may be used in place of sponge rubber pad 27, however, a relatively firm sponge rubber is preferred since it has a relatively high shear strength as compared to foamed plastics and the like. Of course, if a suitable retaining cover is provided for the material, then any form of padding may be used with equal facility. The main requirement is that the pad 27 is kept from interferring with normal opening and closing of the desk drawer. A cover 30, such as a vinyl plastic, encloses pad 27.

The embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 may be used where the desk and/ or its drawers are constructed of metal. In this embodiment, arcuate discontinuity 21" is an arcuate flange which has been stamped out of the plane of metal wall 17" and has a rolled rib 29 on the inside edge thereof. A relatively firm sponge rubber pad 27', similar to pad 27, is fastened to arcuate discontinuity 21" by an adhesive 28' :or other fastening devices suitable for this purpose. A vinyl cover 30' encloses pad 27'.

In use, the heel of a users shoe is comfortably supported in a wall of the desk drawer, and the desk itself forms a supporting base for the open drawer. Since the invention may be applied to different drawers of the desk, a selection by the user of the most relaxing location for the foot support is available. As noted earlier, incorporating the invention in a conventional desk does not in any way interfere with normal use of same.

Changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A metallic desk drawer having at least one side wall member therein, an arcuate surface in an edge of said side wall member, said arcuate surface being a lateral flange integral with said side wall member, normal to the plane of said side wall member and projecting inwardly of the outside surface of said side wall member a short distance into the storage space of the drawer and forming an arcuate discontinuity in the top horizontal edge of said side wall member.

'2. A desk drawer as defined in claim 1 including a pad member on said arcuate surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 621,098 3/1899 Kelly 248371 731,330 6/1903 Woodrufi 312-320 X 1,184,569 5/1916 Rice 3l2-320 2,509,086 5/ 1950 Eaton 269328 2,859,082 11/ 1958 Logue 312209 2,871,074 1/ 1959 Malerich 269328 2,991,126 7/1961 Deady 297439 3,141,701 7/1964 Wilkins 297439 3,173,729 3/ 1965 Luke 297423 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A METALLIC DESK DRAWER HAVING AT LEAST ONE SIDE WALL MEMBER THEREIN, AN ARCUATE SURFACE IN AN EDGE OF SAID SIDE WALL MEMBER, SAID ARCUATE SURFACE BEING A LATERAL FLANGE INTEGRAL WITH SAID SIDE WALL MEMBER, NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID SIDE WALL MEMBER AND PROJECTING INWARDLY OF THE OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID SIDE WALL MEMBER A SHORT DISTANCE INTO THE STORAGE SPACE OF THE DRAWER AND FORMING AN ARCUATE DISCONTINUITY IN THE TOP HORIZONTAL EDGE OF SAID SIDE WALL MEMBER. 